Bundle binding and tying machine



Dec. 4, 1934. J. M. LEAVER; JR

I BUNDLE BINDING AND 'IYIN'G- MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1924 Dec. 4, 1934. J. M. LEAVER. JR

BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1924 4 SheetsSheet 2 fizz/21275; Jigs/1f Leauezxfir Dec. 4, 1934. J. M. LEAVER, JR 3 I BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 BUNDLE BINDING TYING MACHINE James M. Leaver, Jr., Oakland, Calif asslgnor of one-half to Donald Parker and Citizens National .Trust and .Savings Bank of Riverside,

administrators Application May 14,1924, Serial No. 713,180

71 Claims (01. 100-31) I This invention relates to binding machines and among other objects aims-to provide improved bundle clamping mechanism, bundle binding mechanism,

improved combination of these mechanisms in a commercial machine.

This application is also a continuation of invention, in part, of the original and useful bundle binding features disclosed in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 380,375, filed May 10, 1920, and Serial No. 446,942, filed February 21. 1921.

For the purpose of identifying such continuation .of invention, with respect to the improve-.

ments disclosed in said prior applications, attention is directed to flexing of the wire to provide the wire convexly tensioned while the 'wire is maintained under tension; the wrapping of the (:onvexly tensioned wire into band formation about the bundle to provide a band thereabout pressing inwardly -under its convex tension against three sides of the bundle and in the plane of the wrapping thereof; the arranging of the tie portions of the band substantially parallel to the fourth side of the bundle and in said plane; and the intertwisting of said portions to secure the convexly tensioned band. about the bundle. 30, For the purpose of identifying such continua- 'tion of invention, with respect to the apparatus features disclosed in said prior applications, at-

tention is directed to the bundle holding means to receive the bundle, as manually placed, in tying location; the movable tension device for preventing slack and maintaining the wire under tension; the tying mechanism fixed in wire receiving location relative to the frame, abutment,

and support, and into which tying mechanism the wire is wrapped twice for the binding of each bundle; the means for compensatingly clamping the bundle irrespective of the size of the bundle, within the range of operative movement thereof; the motor and clutch thereof.

Other features identifying such continuation of invention, with respect to the apparatus fea-'. tures disclosed in said prior application, will be apparent from the following description, and/or by comparison of the showing of the drawings of this application with the descriptions and/or showing of the drawings of said prior applications.

The invention may be understood by reference to one illustrative embodiment'shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

binding-band tensioning 6 mechanism, and tying mechanism, as well asan Figure 1' is a front elevation of the illustrative machine with parts of the frame broken away to reveal the construction;

Fig.. 2 is a side. elevation, with parts broken away and -illustrating machine construction adapted to receive and bind bundles passed endwise therein directly into binding position;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the gearing which drives the bundle binding v mechanism; Y 6 5 Fig. 4 is an elevation of the operating cylinder for the clamping mechanism, showing the cylin+ der wall broken away;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the wire-slack takeup device;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of parts of the-pedal-actuated controlling mechanism for the machine;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of the wire tying mechanism;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view .through the same showing the overlapping oi.

portions of the band preparatory to the uniting or intertwisting thereof, and the position for gripping of that portion of the wire extending beyond the overlapping portions to the bundle binding mechanism;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing the wire-end gripping means having retainingly bent and gripped that portion of the wire extending therefrom directly to the wire binding mechanism and the wire cutter;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the '90;

manner in which the wire terminal isgripped during one direction of movement of the wire;

Fig. '12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the retraction of the wire during an opposite direction of movement of the wire for the purpose of wrapping a portion of the wire into tying register preliminary to wrapping the wire about the bundle;

Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views illustrating the continued bundle encircling move- 10 ment of the wire during the forming'of the band about the bundle and the respective retraction and feeding movements of the wire .during such process;

-Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a bundle encircling movement of the wire for more than the perimeter of the bundle to provide overlapping portions of the banded wire in tying register; f 1

Figs. 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views illustrating the retraction and feeding of the wire,.

respectively, during the providing of an initial band tie portion in tying register and the formation of the band as the wire is wrapped in an opposite or reverse direction to that shown in Figs. 11 to 15, inclusive;

Fig. 18 is an approximately full size view of flat wire tie formed by the machine.

The illustrative machine, designed for binding bundes or articles which are moved into binding and tying location in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the wire is banded and tied about the bundle, provides spaced stationary bundle supporting elements; means for holding the bundle on the bundle supporting elements; means for convexly tensioning and passing a band completely around the held bundle in a vertical plane intermediate said spaced stationary bundle supporting elements; and a tying mechanism disthe posed in said plane which automatically ties the band, commonly a wire. To insure a tightly bound bundle, primary tensioning or feeding means and secondary tensioning or take-up and retracting means are employed which act in conjunction with a wire gripping device to maintain a substantially uniform tension on the wire.

In the operation of the machine, the bundle is clamped; then the wire is passed initially into the tying mechanism and convexly tensioned as it is passed about thebundle and laid against three faces thereof under its convex tension, being finally passed into the tying mechanism, which is slightly spaced from one side of the bundle. During or after formation of the tie, the wire is out free from the bundle, and the tie, upon completion, is released, whereupon the tied wire closes under its tension against the bundle.

The bundle binding means includes a rotatable member surrounding the bundle support and turning a, sufficient distance during each cycle of movement to provide two overlapping strands within the tying mechanism, from which strands the tie is formed. The rotatable member has mounted thereon spaced wire wrapping means which alternately receive and effect the wrapping of the wire, in transfer relation, during the clockwise or counter-clockwise movements of saidmember.

Associated with the wire cutter is a wire gripping device, which acts to secure the wire end automatically after the wire has been sufliclently intertwisted to securely fasten the band about the bundle. The rotatable bundle binding member may be reversed after each binding cycle, to

lay the wire again about the same bundle, or about the succeeding bundle, in the opposite direction; and to cooperate with such a member the wire cutting and gripping parts are duplicated on opposite sides of the tying mechanism and are actuated alternately to release the initially secured wire end on one side and to cut the wire free from the bundle and secure the freed end :11)! the succeeding binding operation on the other It is to be understood that the illustrative form shown in the drawings is simply a preferred embodiment of the invention; and that in the following explanati n of that specific form, the described details 0 1 structure and organization are merely exemplary. I

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine frame 20, which provides the necessary support for the operating mechanisms, is mounted on wheels or casters 21 so that the machine may be moved about. To support the bundle during and means a number'of spaced, horizontal rollers 22 journaled in the machine frame and arranged for passage of the bundle through the machine. This roller conveyer exemplifies a convenient form of bundle support which facilitates handling the bundles.

To hold the bundle upon its support during the binding and tying operations, clamping means is provided which in this instance is pneumatically operated. The bundle clamping means shown comprises an arm 23 adjustably secured upon and extending substantially at right angles to an upright reciprocable rod 24 guided by the machine frame, said reciproeable rod, as shown in Fig. 4, entering an air cylinder 25 mounted on a frame. Within the cylinder 25, rod 24 is connected to a piston '26, between which and the lower end of the cylinder is a spring 27, provided to move the piston (and hence clamping arm 23) upwardly when the piston is not subjected to pressure, at which time the clamping arm 23' is a sufllcient distance above the bundle support to be out of the way of the bundle. It willbe observed from the showing of Figs. 1 and 4, that the bundle clamping means discloses a novel method of effecting the clamping of the bundle, damping the action of the clamp and restoring the bundle clamp to normal position. It will be apparent from the showing of Fig. 4 that the length and tension of the spring 2'1 determines the control or damping action of the clamp 23, and that any desired damping action may be obtained without recourse to invention, by the use of a spring of desired predetermined length or tension. An air pipe 28 conducts compressed air into the cylinder above the piston when a valve, whose actuation will be described later, is opened, whereupon the piston descends against the pressure of the spring to clamp the bundle. To relieve pressure in the cylinder and thus permit spring 27 to lift the After the bundle has been clamped, it is ready for the binding operation, which is accomplished by a rotary band-guiding and laying mechanism which encompasses the bundle with a band, in this instance, a round wire. The illustrative arrangemen't' employs an annular wire-guiding member 31 supported upon an upright extension 32 of the machine frame by several spaced rollers 33 (Fig. 1) which may be grooved to receive an inner annular track 34 provided on the wireguiding member. As shown, the wire-guiding member completely surrounds the bundle support and extends above the same a suflicient distance to permit the passage of commercial-sized bundles through the machine. Gear teeth 35 are formed on the periphery of the wire-guiding member, to permit driving thereof by poweractuated means, exemplified by the train of gears 36, 3'1, 38 and 39, gear 36 of the wire-guiding member and'pinion. 39 en gaging the vertically reciprocable rack 40. It will be observed from the showing of Figs. 1 and 2, that the rotatable gears 36, 37, 38 and 39, and rotatable shafting connected therewith, comprise gearing, or a train of rotatable elements through which the'rack 40 transmits movement to, and controls the wire guiding member 31. The rack' is guided as at 41 and is operatively connected with a piston rod 42 extending from meshing with teeth 35 cylinder 43 mounted on the frame. In

Fig. 1, it is to be noted that the rotatably mounted gears 36, 3'7, 38 and 39, step-up the movement of the member 31, when compared with the movement of the rack 40, and/or the piston 42, to provide the necessary distance of rotation of the member 31, and therefore, that said gearing, or train of rotatably mounted gears36, 37, 38 and 39,

constitutes a step-up mechanism for increasing the distance of travel of the member 31, with respect to the distance of travel of the rack 40,

and/or the piston 42.

By the described construction, as piston rod 42 is reciprocated (by means to be described) the annular wire guiding member will rotate alternately in oppositedirections through more than one revolution in a plane perpendicular to the bundle support to envelop the bundle completely during-each cycle of movement of the wire-guiding member. It will be observed that the mechanism for actuating the annular wire guiding member accomplishes the rotation of said member alternately in opposite directions, and the reversal of direction of movement and control thereof, without the employment of gears, frictions, clutches, etc., requiring' lateral shifting movement, and/or registering devices. The elimination of such features making for simplified construction and operation, and maximum capacity.

To guide and support the wire 44 during the,

binding of the bundle, a number of freely rotatable grooved wire guiding wheels 46, 4'1, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 (Fig. 1) are carried upon the annular wire-guiding member. Cooperating with these wheels are two similar, co-adjacently mounted wire-leading or wire-wrapping wheels 53 and 53a, the arrangement of said wheels 53 and 53a being such that the wire leads off from one to the other of said wheels'53 or 53a during the binding, while the extremity of the wire is gripped by means associated, for example, with the tying mechanism, when one is provided. See Fig. 10. When I refer to the lea of the wire I have reference to that length of wire extending from the wrapping or lead pulleys 53 and 53a to either of the wire gripping means of the bundle and'indicated in the drawings, Figs. 1 8, 10, 11,.

15, etc., as 440. In Figs. 1 and 11 to 17 inclusive, it is to be observed that the two co-adjacently mounted wheels, or sheaves, 53 and 53a, on the ring, provide a lead-off guide instrumentality which is operable on the wire, extending between the gripper and the wire tensioning source, in such manner that the wire is flexed, or convexed,

away from the bundle in the plane of movement of the wire while the wire is maintained under tension, thereby causing the wire, when applied to the bundle, to press inwardly and tightly under forth herein with respect to the sheaves 53 and 53a. In the machine of this application, I have substituted the ring shaped carrier 31, such as shown in the patent to S. T. Holly, No. 65,746, issued June 11, 1867, for the carrier 38 shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 446,942, and have mounted on said ring carrier, the

positions corresponding to the respective wire positions of the sheaves 94, 95, and 95a, (Figs. 1 and 9 of said co-pending' application Serial No. 446,942) whereby the wire is convexly curved toward the axis of the bundle in a given plane during a reversal of direction of movement of the wire to provide the wire so convexly tensioned as to effect tight hugging of the wire about the bundle, such disclosure exemplifying my new and useful improvements for wrapping the wire formore than the perimeter of the bundle and twice into tying location for. overlapping in said plane, with the wire convexed to press inwardly during the wrapping movement of the wire about the bundle.

The operation of binding a bundle is illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 11-17 inclusive, Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 showing positionsof the parts during and atthe completion of clockwise rotation, and Figs. 16 and 17 two positions during counter-clockwise rotation, Fig. 11 being a diagram of the parts when at rest, corresponding to 1. When the wire-guiding member turns in either direction, the wire passes through an opening 54 (Fig. 3) in the machine frame 'to engage the horizontal face of the bundle. The described bundle binding mechanism lays a wire or other band completely around a bundle without the aid of wire clamps or wire-holdingmeans, and guides and wraps' the wire successively and accurately into the tying mechanism during. each bundle binding omration to provide overlapping portions of the band for the formation of the tie. 'The wrapping is so accomplished, however, that the wire is not drawn longitudinally across a face 'of the bundle, which might disfigure it.

.During certain phases of the bundle-binding.

bundle under proper tension at all times duringthe clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the wrapping means, as will be apparent from a comparison of Fig. 1 and Figs. 11 and 13 or Figs. 11 and 16. Thus to maintain a tension on the wire at all times, the machine has a positively acting mechanism for taking up slack which cooperates with 'a wire-braking or wirefeed-checking mechanism, both mechanisms being interposed between the wire supplying means (not shown) and thebundle binding member already described.

The slack-take-upor secondary tensioning de- 'vice is shown 'in Figs. 1 and 5 as comprising a bar 55 mounted to reciprocate vertically in the plane of the wire guiding wheels provided on the annular member 31 and having a removable weight 56 on its lower end, said weight slidable on an upright rod 57 fast to the machine frame. At the upper end of reciprocable bar 55 a wireguiding wheel 58 is provided for engaging the wire 44a from the wire-feed-checking device 59, (Fig. 1). As the wire slackens, the slack-take up device will descend to retract the surplus ,wire and thus maintain the wire under tension; but as more wire is drawn out during the binding process, with consequent pull upon the wire, the slack-take-up device rises or tends to rise on its guiding rod, whereupon the wire is fed to the annular bundle-binding member. Cushioning means for the slack-take-up device is shown in the form of a coil spring 60 (Fig. 5), which will prevent striking of the'weighted end of bar against the machine frame at the upper end of rod 57, and will, when compressed, increase the pull of the slack-take-up device on the wire. The spring also accelerates the initial action of the slack-take-up device when the bundle-binding means reverses. Obviously, this pull may be regulated, for instance by using weights of different masses. When I refer to retraction" or "slacktake-up of the wire I have reference to the withdrawal or retraction of a portion of the wire 44b, Figs. 11, 12 and 13, during the reversal of movement of the wire binding means 31, 53 and 53a, whereby in such withdrawal or retraction of the wire adjustable working control and tension of the wire is effected.

The wire-feed-checking or primary tensioning device 59 shown comprises a series of staggered rollers 59a. mounted on a carrier secured to the frame extension 32, some of the rollers being adjustable to regulate the bend in the wire, which is trained between the rollers. By varying the bend of the wire it is braked as desired. Associated with the device 59 is a wire guiding and straightening tube, or device, 595 which guides the wire supply strand 44 into alignment with the grooves of the staggered feed-checking or tensioning rollers 59a and which tube, or device, 59b also removes kinks and twists from the supply wire 44 as the latter is drawn therethrough. From the feed-checking device or origin of tensioning the wire passes to wheel 58 of the slacktake-up device, thence between wire-guiding wheels 60a on the frame extension 32, and to the wheels 46-53.

The mechanism described above exemplifies automatic bundle binding means which rotates alternately in opposite directions to envelop a bundle with a tensioned wire band during each cycle ofmovement in either direction, the tension on the wire being maintained substantially uniform 4 whatever the size or shape of the bundle.

To secure the wire to the bundle, it may be tied or secured by hand; or an automatic tying mechanism may beprovided. 'The'tying mechanism shown is claimed herein only in combination with certain parts of the machine; however, it is illustrated sufficiently for a comprehension of the operation thereof in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, while the operating mechanism therefor is best shown in Fig. 2. By reference to Figs. 9 and 11 to 15, inclusive, it is seen that the tying mechanism of this ma- .chine is located within the path of movement of the wire guided by the means, 53 and 53a. so as to provide for'the passing of each portion, or strand, of the wire required for the tie to secure the band about the bundle, directly into the tying mechanism and in overlapping relation therein in the plane in which the wire is wrapped about the bundle.-

The aforesaid described principle of wrapping each tie portion, or strand, of the wire required for the tie, into the tying mechanism follows the teachings and disclosure of my co-pending application, Serial No. 446,942, filed February 21, 1921. In the machine of this application, I have substituted a flat tie, or fiat joint, tying mechanism similar to the tying mechanism disclosed in the patent to A. Heim, No. 1,031,444, filed July 2, 1912, in respect to the tying of a flatrknot, or flat joint. in such manner that the same is discharged toward the bundle; the bearing for the tying feature having a diametrical slot therethrough pro meagre another position of register with the slot for dis-' charging the tie therethrough toward the bundle. In my machine, I have improved upon the tying mechanism and principle disclosed in the Helm patent, by providing for the tying of small bundles, in the manner hereinafter described.

From the aforesaid description, it will be obvious that I have continued invention relative to the principles and improvements disclosed in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 380,375 and Serial No. 446,942, for the purpose of adapting the same to the forming a flat tie, or flat joint, dischargeable toward the bundle.

When I refer to wire strands, tie portions, tie strands", .overlapping strands, to overlap the wire", or terms of similar expression, I have reference to those portions, or bights, of the strand 1, designated as 44d and 44e. Figs. 12 to 17, inclusive, and 9 and 18, of the drawings, disclose the manner in which dual portions, or bights, 44d and 44e, are wrapped and provided directly into overlapping tying register during the wrapping of the wire, to effect the binding of the bundle.

Secured to the machine frame are two brackets or frames 61, 62 which together support the tying mechanism and provide an upright abutment against which, one face of the bundle may be thrust before binding (Fig. 1), to position the. bundle properly relative to the parts which form the tie. These frames are spaced slightly apart, as shown in Fig. 8 to provide a passageway 63 through which the wire is guided into the twister by the surrounding annular guiding member and through which the wire, after being twisted, passes to the bundle. Clearly, the passageway 63 extends substantially in the plane of the wire guiding wheels 46, 47, etc.

Upon frame 62, adjacent passageway 63, and arranged respectively above and below the wire twister shell or barrel 64, are two swingable cutters 65 and 66 respectively, each of which is in the form of an arcuate plate carrying a wire severing knife. The upper cutter 65 is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 10. The two cutters are exactly alike in construction and in function but out the wire alternately on opposite sides of the twister.

As shown in Fig. 8, the two cutters 65, 66 are oppositely pivoted as at 67 and 68 respectively, to be swingable across the wire passageway 63. The mechanism shown for swinging the cutters alternately includes the eccentric arms 69, 70 pivotally connected to the cutters at one end and having their eccentrics mounted on shafts 71, 72 supported on frame 62. Shaft 72 is rotated by bevel gears 73, 74, the latter fast to shaft 75 having a bevel gear 76 at its lower end (Fig. 2) meshing with a similar gear 77 supported by a shaft '78. Shaft 71 is driven synchronously with shaft 72 by the meshing gears '79, 80 secured to the respective shafts.

The selected mechanism for,,intermittently ting of the wire on opposite sides of the tie-form-y ing member.

Referring to Fig. 10, the upper cutter (which is structurally and functionally identical with the lower cutter 66), has its arcuate edge 89 mating with a shear plate 90 aflixed to frame 62, one end of the shear plate terminating at passageway 63 and providing a shearing edge 91 cooperating with a knife 92 on the cutter. The knife 92 is provided by a projection integral with the arcuate cutter 65 and extending toward the frame, the

upper face 93 of said knife serving as one part of the wire-end gripping means. It will be clear that when the cutter is swung across passageway 63 in the direction of its supporting frame the knife will engage the strand of wire extending in said passageway and shear it. By reference to Fig. 10, it will be seenthat an anvil 94 projects beyond the cutting edge of the shear plate 90, thus providing for the bending ofthe wire thereover by the upper inner edge of the knife 92 before the severing of the wire takes place, thus insuring a bend or kink in the wire sufilcient to securely hold the same forthe following binding operation and before the cutting of the wire. As shown, the anvil 94 has a rounded edge to prevent any cutting of the wire by the upper edge of knife 92 during the bending or kinking of the wire. as angular for the purpose of forming an acute kink, or bend, in the wire before the cutting of the wire takes place. From the disclosure of Fig. 8, it will be readily understood that the timing or normal position of the gripping and cutting means 92 may be readily modified by simply so arranging the meshing of gears as to provide the desired adjustment of the same through the medium of the eccentrics, which operate the eccentric arms 69 and '70.

When the wire is cut, its free end continues to bend about the anvil 94 provided by the end edge of head 95 of a gripper arm 96 pivoted to the frame 62 as at 97 (Fig. 8) to swing between the arcuate plate and, the frame. The lower edge of head 95 is spaced a suficient distance from the upper face 93 of the knife to permit the bent wire end to pass .into said space and be gripped between the head 95 and said knife. Thus the knife and gripper arm cooperate to secure the a preliminary to the cutting thereof, in readiness for the succeeding bundle binding operation.

pin 98 is pivatally connected and is slidable through frame 62, said pin being adjusted longitudinally by a nut 99 at its upper end. A coil spring 100 carried by the pin presses the head 95 binding member 31 of this application, in like manner to the binding member 38 of my parent The upper edge of the knife 92 is shown At an intermediate point on.gripper arm 96 a co-pending application Serial No. 446,942 filed Feb. 21, 1921, has two positions of reversal relative to the knotter mechanism and to its reversing movement causes the overlapping of parallel strands within the slot of the knotter for the forming of a tie therein; and said binding memher also moves a sufficient distance during each cycle ofoperation to wrap a. wire progressively about the successive faces of a bundle in addition to overlapping the parallel tie strands as aforesaid.

,In view of the foregoing description of this invention it will be readily seen that the wire binding member 31,, of this invention, in like manner to the binding member 33 of my parent co-pending application Serial No. 446,942, filed February 21, 1921, has a rotary or revoluble motion about a stationary bundle and positions tie strands of wire in overlapping relation (Fig. 15) within the knotting mechanism without the aid of auxiliary devices, and the means employed for delivering or guiding the binding wire in tensioned and operative state to the binding member 31 of this application are-similar to the means employed in said copending parent application 100 for accomplishing said results.

When the bundle has been bound, the wire strands overlap adjacent the wire-end gripper, because of the described movement of the bundle binding member through more than one revolution. The strands areunited by the wire twister 64 shown as alongitudinally slotted tube having at an intermediate point a slotted pinion 101 (Fig. 9). The slot 101a (Fig. 9) in the twister pinion 101 is narrower than the slot 64a in both ends of the twister so that the overlapping portions of the wire, or overlapping wire strands, 44d and 44e, are held substantially parallel by the narrow slot 101a while the twisting of the extended overlapping portions of the wire is performed within the barrel or larger slot, 64a, and at both sides of the slot 101a, and is supported for axial rotation between frames 61, 62, so that its longitudinal slot in one position thereof may extend in the passageway 63, first to receive the wire from the bundle binding .parts, and after twisting thereof, to discharge the tied wire in the direction .of the bundle, towardswhich it will move owing to its tension. The twister shownv is so constructed and arranged that it will not be slotted twister in direction of the bundle by a pair of retaining members 150 slidably mounted on frame 61 (Fig. 8), which extend between the wire and the bundle at both ends of the twister. These retaining members 150 are held projected across the passageway 63 by springs 151, and are moved out of that position by arms 152 on the shaft 104, which engage lugs 153 projecting from the side of the fingers at the completion of each twisting operation.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 9, it will be noted that the retaining fingers particularly provide for the binding of small packages, inasmuch 151" as said fingers are arranged adjacent each end of the twister 101 in such manner that the wire strands inclined toward the bundle, and required for intertwisting to form the tie, are held free from contact with the shell 64 of the twister, during the formation of the-tie, irrespective of the size of the bundle.

It will be noted from Fig. 8 that said retaining fingers 150 are so actuated in timed relation with the operation of the twister that upon completion of the tie said fingers are receded to permit the discharge of the wire and the formed tie through the passageway 63, toward and against the near face of the bundle.

In view of the aforesaid description, and the' showing of 'the drawings with respect to the wire retaining features, it will be seen that my invention introduces new and novel features of aligning the wire to provide for the intertwisting thereof irrespective of the size of the bundle, and thereafter the unobstructed discharge of the wire and tie through a passageway, toward the bundle, said passageway being in a plane in which the binding means wraps the wire about the bundle and into the,twisting means.

1 It willbe observed from the showing of Fig. 9 that the" fingers 7150 also serve the purpose of" registering the wire with the bore 64a. of the twister 101, in such manner as to provide for the formation of a flat knot. or flat tie, (see Fig. 18) during the rotation of the twister. w

When I use the term flat joint, flat knot, or flat tie, or substantially fiat tie, substantially flat knot, or substantially flat joint", I have reference to that type of joint, knot, or intertwisted tie which is formed of longitudinally passing strands arranged in substantial parallelism intermediate the longitudinal edges of a side of the bundle, and which joint, knot, or tie is formed parallel to and willlie flat against said side of the bundle when released under the tension of the encircled band.

The air cylinder 43 (Fig. 1) is connected with a source of air pressure (not shown) and may be employed as a primary actuating cylinder for the machine. Tosupply compressed air intermittently to cylinder 25, pipe 23 is connected with a valve chest 110 of cylinder 43, Fig. 1, the arrangement preferably being such that the compressed air is admitted to cylinder, 25 (efiecting clamping of the bundle) just as the bundle bind-- ing mechanism starts. As shown in Fig. 2, rack 81 carries a pawl v111 which in each left-to-right stroke of the rack, as viewed in that figure engages a control arm 112 of valve 30 to open cylinder 25 fto the atmosphere, thus effecting release of the bundle by the clamping arm 23. Valve 30 is closed automatically, for instance by a spring (not shown).

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the piston in cylinder 88, which reciprocates rack 81, is governed by a two-way valve ll3iwhich controls the flow of air through pipes 114 leading to opposite ends of cylinder 88. Valve 113 is connected by pipes 115, 116 with the cylinder 43 so that cylinder 88 is always under pressure. is

The controlling mechanism for the difierent valves is shown best in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. An operating lever in the form of a bi-pedal 1171s pivoted as at 118 upon the machine frame and is normally egualized by opposed springs 119 on the frame-supported rod 120, said springs bearing against the pedal arm 121. The pedal 117 is connected by links 122 and 123 (Figs. 1 and 2) with a rock shaft 124 supported upon the machine frame as best shown in Fig. 2. At the other end of, the rock shaft 124 a lever 125 is secured, the normal position of said lever being as shown in Fig. 1. ;To rock shaft 124, intermediate the link 123 and lever 125 a slotted link 126 (Fig. 1) is secured, and as shown has a pinand-slot connection with the slidable valve-control rod 127 which governs the piston in cylinder 43.. Thus, when the pedal 117 is depressed at either end, the bundle binding mechanism is actuated in one direction or the other.

Supported on the machine frame above rod 120 is a rock shaft 128 having at one end a lever 129 (Flgs. 2 and 6)"to which is pivotally connected a vertical spring-liftedrod 130. The red lifting spring 131 may be placed, as shown, between the machine frame and the upper enlarged head 132 of rod 130. The pedal arm 121 carries a flat spring 133, which in the intermediate position of thel'pedal engages a detent 134 on rock shaft 128, thus preventing said rock ,shaft being rocked by spring 131. But when thepedal is depressed at either end, the flat spring 133 will move out of contact 'withdetent 134; permitting the rod 13(lto move upwardly.

By means of a slotted arm 135, (Fig. 1) whose slot receives a pin on rod 130, a rock shaft 136 carried on the machine frame is connected with rock shaft 128. An arm 137 at the opposite end of rock shaft 136 is pivotally connected with a automatically by a spring (not shown) to admit no air to the opposite end of cylinder 88 when lug 139 is moved outef engagement withcontrol arm. 140. The control rod 138 passes through guides 141 provided on the underside of lever 125 so that when rock shaft 124 is rocked, the

control rod 138 likewise is rocked, thus separating lug 132 from valve control arm 140. To rock shaft 136 there is also secured an arm 142; (Fig. ILhaving a pin-and-slot connection with a vertical rod 143 projecting through the machine frame alongside rack 40. 'This rad: at its lower end has fan extension 144 which receives the vertical rod 143, so that when therack 40 approaches its upper limit'of travel, its extension 144 will engage head 145 of vertical rod 143,

thereby to move said rod upwardly against the tension of the spring 131 and oscillate rock shaft 136, with consequent actuation of valve control rod 138.

is placed on the roller conveyer, the operator depresses the right hand end of operating pedal 117 (as viewed in Fig. 1), which causes rocking n The operation of the machine is briefly as fol:

lows: After a bundle or other object to be bound of lever 125 and hence tilting of valve control rod 138 out of engagement with valve arm 140, whereupon the valve 113 is moved by'its spring to admit compressed air into one end of cylinder 88. The rack 81 then moves to the left as seen in Fig. 2 and rotates the twister 101, which stops 4 3 with its slot registering withthe passageway 83, as in Fig. 9,:in position to receive the incoming wire; strands from the surrounding binding mechanism. I During this initial movement of rack 81 the wire gripping and cutting parts are .5

stationary.

Simultaneously with the aforesaid depression .of the operating pedal, .the valve control rod 127 is moved downwardly, permitting compressed air to pass through pipe 28 to cylinder 25. The 151) means bundle is then clamped. This movement of the valve control rod 127 admits compressed air to one end of cylinder 43, causing the rack 40 to move upwardly to rotate the bundle binding ,mechanism through more than one revolution,

member and the clamp, of this application, is

of primary importance in that it eliminates the objectionable feature of intervals of time between the binding and clamping operations, so

, prevalent in the prior art, and makes for simplicity of construction and operation and increased capacity.

When the bundle envelopment is being completed, the rack extension 144 lifts rod 143, from the position in which the tension spring 131 will adjust the rod 143 through the means 130, 132, 135, 136, and 137, when the extension 144 is not in contact with the head 145 of said rod 143, to oscillate rock shaft 136 and cause projection of valve control rod 138, whoselug 139 engages valve arm 140 as shown in Fig. 1 and moves valve 113 into a position which admits air into the opposite end of cylinder 88, thereby moving rack 81 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2. During this movement of said rack, the shaft 104is rotated to effect twisting of the overlapped Wire strands to form the tie, Fig. 18. The same motion of rack 81 also opens valve 30, thus effecting release of the bundle. After the overlapped tie portions, or strands,-

of the wire have been securely intertwisted, so that the possibility of slipping of the twisted wires is eliminated, the initially secured end 44c of the wire is released'by the, wire gripping parts, and the bend in 440 is partially straightened-out by the slight further action of the twister to the final form shown in Fig. 18. At about the same time, the cutter at the opposite end of the twister is actuatedto form a holding bend in the wire against the anvil 94 and cut the wire between the tie and the bend, and immediately after cutting to additionally secure the wire end so formed for the succeeding bundle binding cycle. With the completion of the tie, the twister 101 stops in a position diametrically opposite to that of Fig. 9, to discharge the tied wire in the direction of the bundle. The tension of the wire then causes it to close tightly against the side of the bundle. Thus the cycle is completed.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the actuation of the twisting means takes place quickly upon completion of the binding of the bundle, by reason of the extension 144, mounted on the actuating member 40, effecting movement of the rod 143 simultaneously with the completion of the binding of the bundle, whereby the twister actuating means becomes active quickly and substantially at the point of completion of the binding movement of said member.

Inasmuch as the present disclosure shows fluidactuated means for effecting actuation of the twister, it will be apparent that the primary ob-' ject of the invention is to effect the tying of the wire at the earliest possible moment upon the completion of the binding of the bundle, and it is believed, from the operation and structure of the features 130 to 144, inclusive, it will be apparent that it requires no invention to change the length, or leverages, or degreeof movement of such features so as to modify the timing of the actuation of the twister with respect to quickly actuating the twister either simultaneously upon completion of the binding movement, or substantially atthe point of said completion ofthe binding movement.

To initiate the succeeding cycle, the opposite or left end of bi-pedal 117 is depressed, causing the same operations'as before, the only difference being that valve control rod 127 is moved oppositely,

causing descent of rack 40 at the start and rotation of the annular bundle binding member in the opposite direction. Irrespective of the movement of the bundle binding member, the wire is constantly tensioned by the yielding and retracting;

slack-take-up device working in conjunction with the wirefeed-checking or primary tension device 59.

The wire tying parts are so constructed and arranged that the initial elongation and torsion of the wire, during formation of the tie, are in part transmitted to the wire passing around the bundle. For the purpose of exemplifying the principle of forming a tie with the twisting requirements of the wire, necessary to form the tie, primarily provided from the wire passing around the bundle, Fig. 9, shows one portion of the wire.

i; e., the initially secured end, rigidly held; thewire laid in the twister after bundle envelopment is thus free to move longitudinally or axially, if subjected to sufiicient tension or torsion. In short, the tie is substantially a free running" tie, the twisted part being free to creep to a. certain extent, if the wire is stressed excessively. Hence excessive elongation and torsion of the wire, causing weakening or even breaking thereof, is prevented. The fluid actuated machine of the drawings, has been included in this application, preferably for the reason that fluid pressure actuating means and valves for operating the same, are of such well known construction that it requires but limited description to explain and recite the operation thereof. means, valves for actuating the same and mechanism for actuating the valves, are disclosed in the prior art in patents No. 1,324,238, No. 1,324,239, and No. 1,324,039, issued to C. E. Evans, December 9, 1919, and which patents are now owned by me.

Referring to my patents for Bundle binding machines, No. 1,260,003, issued March 19, 1918, and-No. 1,295,531, issued February 25, 1919, and patent to N. B. Thompson, No. 1,152,670, issued September 7, 1915, owned by me, it will be understood that the substitution of mechanical means, in place of a fluid pressure means of this machine, for actuating the clamp, binding means,

and tying, gripping, cutting and retaining means,

Fluid pressure.

Upon the issuance of my co-pendingand Serial No,;446,942, filed February 21, 1921,

principle herein disclosed. Neither is it necesnism operable during each interval of rest to.

sary that all the features of the invention be used conjointly; they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations as defined in the claims.

What I claim is: i

1. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, mechanism surrounding the object to be bound for guiding and laying a band completely around said object during each cycle of movement in one direction; and means actuating said mechanism alternately in opposite directions to effect binding of the objects alternately in opposite directions; said actuating means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement.

2. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; an annular bundle-binding member surrounding the bundle support; and driving means for said member rotating it alternately in opposite directions to effect binding of the bundle, at spaced intervals, alternately in opposite directions; said means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement. 7

3. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; an annular bundle-binding member surrounding the bundle support; and means for effecting simultaneous actuation of the clamping means and the bundle binding means and for rotating said bundle binding member alternately in opposite directions with an interval of rest; and a wire tying mechaunite the wire strands.

4. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, mechanism for binding an object with a strand of wire; means for driving said mechanism consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; said means driving saidmechanism alternately in opposite directions to effect binding of the objects alternately in opposite directions; and wire tying mechanism positioned within the path of travel of the wire to unite the wire in a fiat tie at the completion of each binding operation.

5. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; a bundlebinding member movable in opposite directions about the bundle support; wire tying mechanism fixed relative to the bundle support; means for clamping a bundle on the support; means for simultaneously actuating said bundle-binding member and said clamping means; the bundle binding member being constructed and arranged to place a wire completely around the bundle in each movement in either direction and to overlap the wire within the tying mechanism; and means for maintaining the wire taut during movement of the bundle-binding member in opposite directions.

6. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle-binding member; wire tying mechanism; the bundle binding member being constructed and arranged to place a wire completely around a bundle and to overlap the wire in a vertical plane within the tying mechanism; and driving means for the bundle binding member comprising a driving member fixed against lateral shifting movement and movable in opposite directions, and connections interposed between said member of the driving means and the bundle-binding member for effecting movement of the bundle-binding member in opposite directions.

'7. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a rotary bundle-binding member; wire tying mechanism for forming a fiat tie; the bundle binding member being constructed and arranged to place a wire completely around a bundle and to overlap the wire in a vertical plane within the tying mechanism; and means to rotate the bundle binding member alternately in opposite directions; said means to rotate the bundle-binding member comprising a driving member fixed against lateral shifting movement and movable alternately in opposite directions, and connections interposed between the driving member and the bundle-binding member.

8. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, means for securing one end of a wire; a rotary bundle-binding member fixed against lateral shifting movement and constructed and arranged to lay the wire, whose end is held, completely around a bundle in a vertical plane, successively in contact with three faces thereof and to overlap the extremities of the wire in said plane at the fourth face of the bundle; means to unite said overlapped extremities into a flat tiecomprising. a rotary slotted twister; means including a source of power for actuating the machine in a cycle; and means for actuating the bundle-binding member directly said cycle begins.

9. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a rotary bundle-binding member constructed and arranged to lay a wire strand completely around a bundle to provide overlapping strands for forming a flat tie; driving means for the member comprising a reversing gear, reversible driving connections interposed between said reversing gear and the bundle-binding member, and a toothed driving element fixed against lateral shifting movement and operable in opposite directions in mesh with 115 said reversing gear for effecting rotation of the bundle-binding member in opposite directions, with an interval of rest, through said connec'-- tions; and means positioned within the path of travel of the wire to receive andunite the overlapping extremities of the wire into the flat tie during said interval of rest.

10. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; means for clamping a bundle on the support; a twister fixed relative to the support; a bundle-binding member constructed and arranged to lay the wire completely around a bundle successively in contact with three faces thereof and to overlap the wire within the twister at the fourth face of 130 the bundle, said bundle-binding member overlapping the strands in said twister without the aid of clamping means; and meansfor efiecting simultaneous actuation of the clamping means and the bundle-binding member. 135

11. A machine of the class described compris-= ing, in combination, wire feed controlling means; wire takeup means; mechanism for guiding and laying a band completely about a bundle in one cycle of movement; means for tying the band so laid; and driving means comprising a rackand pinion effecting reversal of the band-guiding and laying mechanism to enclose a second bundle with a band in the. opposite cycle of movement.

12. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; a bundle positioning abutment fixed relative to the support; means for gripping the end of a. wire; means for feeding the wire at predetermined tension for binding a bundle positioned on the 150 support; means active on the wire intermediate of the gripped end and the feeding means to maintain the length. of wiretherebetween free of slack; wire tying mechanism including a rotary slotted twister; an annular bundle binding member encircling the abutment and said tying mechanism and revoluble about a bundle positioned on the support to carry the wire therearound in a plane aligned with the slot in said twister; and driving means for the bundle-binding member consist-ing solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement, said members comprising a pinion gear, step-up gearing interposed between the pinion gear and the bundlebinding member, and a toothed element constantly meshing with said pinion gear; said Wire entering the slot of the twister and successively enveloping the faces of the bundle and again entering the slot of the twister to overlie the initially positioned wire, through the actuation of said member.

13. A machine of theclass described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; a bundle positioning abutment; wire tying mechanism including a rotary slotted twister adjacent said abutment; an annular bundle binding means encircling said support, said abutment and .said tying mechanism, and constructed and arranged to revolve about a bundle positioned on the support to lay a wire therearound in a plane aligned with the slot of the twister; and driving means for the bundle-binding member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement, said members comprising a rotatable shaft, a pin on gear secured to said shaft, stepup gearing interposed between the pinion gear and-the bundle-binding member, and a tooth'ed element permanently meshing with said piniongear; said wire entering the slot of the twister,

then successively enveloping the faces of the bundle, and again entering the slot of the twister to overlie the initially positioned wire through ctuation of said member.

14. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a. bundle support; means for holding a bundle on the support; wire tying mechanism including a rotary. slotted twister; bundle binding-means revoluble about the bundle to carry a wire therearound in a plane aligned with the slot in said twister; said wire entering the slot of the twister, then enveloping the successive facesof the bundle, and again entering into the slot of the twister to overlie the initially positioned wire through actuation of said member; and means for effecting simultaneous actuation of the clamping means and the bundlebinding means.

15. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a. main frame; a conveyer supported upon the frame and providing a bundle support; an auxiliary frame at one side of the conveyer providing a bundle-positioning abutment; spaced wire tie section retaining means slidably mounted on the abutment; tying mechanism carried by the auxiliary frame comprising a slotted rotary twister positioned inter- .mediate of said retaining means; and bundle binding means operating at right angles to the bundle support and carried by the main frame.

16. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a frame; a horizontal roller conveyer carried upon the frame to support the bundles; fluid-actuated means to clamp the bundies on the conveyer support; bundle binding means operable in a vertical plane at right angles to the direction of movement of bundles along the roller conveyer; a slotted rotary twister having its slot facing in said plane for receiving wire binding means surrounding the conveyer and operable in a vertical plane, at right angles to the direction of movement of bundles along the conveyer; a slotted twister having its slot facing in said plane for receiving wire from the binding means; and plural wire feed restraining instrumentalities on the frame constructed and arranged to successively operate on a strand of wire for maintaining the wire under desired working and binding tension.

18. A machine of the class described comprising,.in combination, a frame; a fixed horizontal bundle supporting conveyer carried by the frame; an upright combined bundle-positioning abutment and tying mechanism support fixed to the frame and extending in the direction of movement of bundles along the conveyer; bundle binding means operable in a plane at right angles to of the path of said bundles; and bundle binding for rotating said mechanism consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement.

21. .A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; a rotary bundle-binding mechanism; means rotating the bundle-binding mechanism through more than one revolution in each cycle to encompass a bundle with wire and to provide longitudinally overlapping wire strands in a vertical plane 'for forma tion of a flat wire tie; said means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement, and adapted to reverse the direction of the binding mechanism for each cycle of operation; and wire tying mechanism.

22. A -machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support, rotary bundle-binding mechanism operating to bind a supported bundle with wire; means rotating said mechanism through more than one revolution strands in a vertical plane for formation of a flat tie; said rotating means comprising a train of inter-connected rotative elements, and a toothed element fixed against lateral shifting movement and operable alternately in opposite'directions in engagement with one of said rotative elements for reversing the direction of movement of the mech-, anism, through said rotative elements, for each cycle of operation; and wire tying mechanism to unite said overlapped strands into'the flat tie at the completion ofeach direction of movement of the binding mechanism.

23. A machine of the class described cQmprising, in combination, a frame; a fixed horizontal roller conveyer on the frame providing a bundle support; rotary bundle binding means: poweractuated bundle clamping means movable vertically relative to the support to bundle is bound and tied.

24. A machine of the class described comprising, in' combination, a bundle support; and bundle clamping means comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a rod connected to the piston and extending above the bundle support, a bundle clamping armjaddustably mounted on the rod, a compressible spring interposed between the piston and a cylinder end and normally holding the arm spaced above the support, and means for conducting'fluid under pressure into the cylinder to effect bundle clamping.

25. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, an annular rotary bundlebinding member; rotary wire-guiding means over which a wire passes and rotary wire-leading means between which the wire passes carried upon the annular member; a bundle support surrounded by the annular member; means for clampinga bundleon the 'support;jmeans for effecting simultaneous actuation of the clamping means and the bundle-binding member; means for maintaining tension on the wire durin bundle binding; a wire tying means constrained with respect to said support in which the directly passed twice in leading means during the bind'mg movement of the annular member and thereby overlapped; and means for rotating said tying means to intertwist the twd portions into a flat tie directly said an nular member completes its binding movement.

26. A machine of the class described compris ing, in combination, a frame; rotary annular bundle-binding means; a bundle support; cooperating wire-guiding means carried upon the frame and upon the bundle binding means; means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement 'for rotating the bundle-binding means to effect the'binding of the bundle; means for maintaining tension on the wire; wire tying mechanism comprising a wire twister for forming a fiat tie'in which the wiee is directly passed twice in one directicn and overlapped during rotation of the bundle-binding means; and means mounted'on one of said members of the means for rotating said binding means operable to render the tying mechanism active to form the flat tie directly said binding means com pletes its binding movement.

27. A machine of the class described compris ing, in combination, a frame; a rotary bundlebinding member; a bundle support provided upon the frame; wire guiding means carried upon the frame and upon the binding member; means for maintaining tension on the wire mean for. ro-

wire is one direction by the-wire- 1 direction of hold the bundle on the roller cenveyer; and resilient means for tating the binding means in reverse directions; and. wire tying mechanism fixed relative to the frame and actuatedat the end of each cycle or movement of the binding means.

28. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, rotary bundle-binding means; means to reverse direction of rotation thereof for each cycle of movement; said reversing means consisting of a train of interconnected rotative elements, and a toothed element fixed againstlateral shifting movement engaging one of said rotative elements for reversing the binding:

movement of the bundle-binding means through said rotative elements for each cycle of operation; wire tying means; and wire gripping means at opposite sides of L the wire tying means; said parts operating to bind the bundle'with the wire, then to form thetie, and to release the tie at either side of the wire tying means.

29."A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a rotary reversible bundlebinding member; wire tying mechanism; wireend gripping means in duplicate arranged near the tying mechanism and operable alternately to grip the wire before each binding operation; means for rotating and reversing the bundlebinding member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; and means on one of said members of the'rotating' and reversing means for rendering the tying mecha-' nism and the gripping means active in timed relation with the bundle-binding member.

30. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination; a bundle support; a rotary annular bundle-binding member surrounding the bundle support; means for clamping a bundle on lot the support; means for simultaneously rotating I the bundle-binding member to efiect the binding of a bundle and to actuate the clamping means, a series of spaced wire guiding wheels carried upon the annular member, two of said wheels close together to permit the wire to lead oif from either during bundle binding; and a wire end gripper fixed relative to the support.

'31. A machine of the class described comprise ing, in combination, a bundle support; a bundlepcsitioning abutment; means for holding one end of a wire adjacent the abutment-positioned face of the bundle intermediate the longitudinal edges of said face; tying means for forming a fiat tie mounted on said abutment adjacent the holding means; a rotary bundle-binding member movable completely around the bundle for laying a wire successively in contact with three faces of the 1 bundle and overlapping the wire within the tying means in the cycle of operation of the member; and means for reversing the binding member relative to the holding means for each binding operation comprising a reversing gear, connections interposed between said gear and the binding member, and a toothedelement fixed against lateral shifting movement and operable alternately in opposite directions in mesh with said wheels rotatable on the clamping means; the 1-;

lead-ofi wheels on said annular binding member binding the wire about the bundle and the guiding wheels thereon holding the wire spaced from the bundle while the wire is encircled about the bundle and laid into the wire tying means. 33. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; a plurality of spaced wire end gripping means adjacent one side of the support; rotatable bundle-binding means surrounding the support; means for clamping a bundle on the support; means for simultaneously rotating the binding means and actuating the clamping means; to place a wire about the sides of the bundle successively, to lie in contact with said sides and to deliver the-wire into position for gripping by each of said gripping means; and wire tensioning means maintaining tension on the wire in' all positions of the binding means.

34. A machine of the class described comprising,- in combination, an annular binding member having wire guiding means spaced therearound and constructed and arranged to lay a wire around a bundle upon actuation of the member; spaced wire retaining means movable into operative position in the path of movement of the wire; wire tying means including a rotary slotted twister between said spaced means encircled by. said member and constructed and arranged to receive tie strands of the wire from said member in overlapping relation; driving means for the annular member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; means mounted on one of said members for causing rotation of said twister to form a flat tie with said strands; and means for effecting retraction of the retaining means to release the tie sidewise toward the bundle.

35. A machine of the class described, comprising, in combination, means for securing the end of a strand of wire; rotary reversible bundlebinding means including two wire guides etween which a wire passes; means for rotating the binding means through more than one revolution whereby the wire is wrapped into band formation about the bundle, said wire being disengaged from one guide and contacted by the other for eiT-ecting tight hugging of the wire against three sides of the bundle during its binding cycle to encompass a bundle with the wire and to provide overlapping strands of the wire beyond the secured end for the forming of a flat tie; said means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; means operable directly the binding means completes its cycle of binding movement to unite the overlapped portions of the strands into the fiat tie; and a plurality of wire tensioning means operable to maintain a substantially constant tension on the wire in all positions of said binding-means.

36. A machineof the class described comprising, in combination, a frame; a bundle support, means for clamping a bundle on the support; rotary bundle-binding means including two wire guides disposed at each side of a strand of wire for flexing and wrapping the wire into band formation about a bundle and tightly against three sides thereof, wire tying means for forming a flat tie; means for actuating the clamp; means for simultaneously rotating the bundlebinding means and actuating the clamping means; and wire tensioning means carried by the machine frame at one side of the rotary bundlebindingmeans and means automatically operable to maintain tension on the wire.

37. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, an annular bundle-binding member; means for actuating said annular member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral, shifting movement; spaced wheels and coadjacent wire lead-oil wheels on said member; wire tying mechanism for forming a flat tie including a rotary slotted twister and spring-actuated wire retaining elements spaced from and at each side of the twister; said guiding wheelsholding the wire spaced from all parts of the bundle while the lead wire is encircled i'nto band formation about the bundle and laid in contact with said retaining elements and in the slot of the twister by the lead-ofi wheels.

38. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a rotary annular bundlebinding member; means for actuating said annular member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; wire lead off and wire guiding means on said annular member for guiding and supporting the wire; and mechanism for forming a flat tie including a rotary slotted twister; spring-actuated wire retaining elements spaced from and at each side of the twister; and, wire end grippers mounted near the retaining elements; two of said guiding means binding the wire about a bundle and the other of said guiding and supporting means bundle while the lead of the wire is encircled into band formationabout the bundle and has been carried into contact with the retaining ele-" ments and into the slotted twister.

39. A machine of the class described compris- 1 ing, in combination, an annular rotary bundlebin'ding member; spaced wire-guiding. wheels carriedon one side of said member; two of said wheels having their peripheries close together holding the wire spaced from all parts of the so that the wire leads ofi from either, or both,

for effecting the binding of the bundle; and means to rotate said member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement.

40. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, an annular wire-guiding member carrying spaced wire-guiding wheels on one side thereof, two of said wheels having their peripheries close together so that the wire leads off from either, or both, during binding of the bundle; and means to rotate said member comprising a reversing gear, rotatably mounted gearing interposed between said gear and said member, and a toothed .element fixed against lateral shifting movement operable alternately in opposite directions in mesh with said reversing gear for rotating said member through more than one complete revolution alternately in opposite directions;

41. A machine of the class described comprisspring-projected wire retaining means spaced from andat each side of said twister, and wire end grippers mounted near the retaining means; a, bundle positioning abutment to permit placing the bundle close to the tying means and having a passageway for 'the wire; means for actuating 5 the bundle-binding means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; and means mounted on one of said members for causing actuation of the twister, the retaining means. and the grippers in timed relation with the bundle-binding meansythe parts being constructed and arranged to provide overlapping of the wire in a vertical plane within the tying means and to discharge the tied wire through said passageway.

42. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; rotary annular wire-guiding means constructed and arranged to lay a wire around a bundle in opposite directions; means for rotating said annular wire guiding means in said opposite directions comprising a rack and pinion reversing the direction of rotation thereof with an interval of rest between said directions of movement; mechanism operable during said interval of rest for forming a flat tie with portions of the wire laid about the bundle; and automatically acting means to maintain a substantially uniform tension on the wire irrespective of its movement.

43. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a bundle support; fluidactuated means for clamping a bundle on the support; means for convexing a wire and binding a bundle with the convexed wire as to provide a band thereabout pressing inwardly against three sides of the bundle, with paralleling strands thereof overlapped in tying location adjacent the fourth side thereof; and means for twisting said overlapped strands to form a tie reacting during the major portion of its formation against the resistance of the bundle only.

\ 44. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a rotary bundle-binding member constructed and arranged to envelop completely a supported bundle with a wire with portions of the wire' overlapping; a wire tying mechanism including a wire twisting member having a longitudinal slot; the parts being so constructed and arranged that the wire is laid in said slot after the rotary bundle-binding member, starts to rotate and is again laid in said slot after envelopment of the bundle; means for rotating the bundle-binding member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; and means for rotating the twisting member to intertwist said portions or the wire into a fiat tie and to position said slot toward the bundle for discharge of the tie; the rotation of the twister beginning directly the binding member completes the envelopment of the bundle.

45. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, mechanism surrounding the object to be bound for guiding and laying a band completely around said object during each cycle of movement in one direction; means activated independently of any contact with the bundle for actuating said mechanism alternately in opposite directions to effect binding of the objects alternately in opposite directions; said activated means consisting solely or members fixed against lateral shifting movement; and means for maintaining the wire taut during movement of the bundle-binding mechanism in said opposite directions.

46. A machine of the class described compris- .ing, in combination, a bundle support; an annular bundle-binding member surrounding the bundle support; driving means for said member activated independently of any contact with the bundle for rotating said member alternately in opposite directions to efiect binding of the bundles alternately in opposite directions; said actireversing gear, driving connections interposed between said reversiposed between ing gear and the annular bundle-binding member, and a toothed driving element operable alternately in opposite directions in mesh with said reversing gear.

47; A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, an annular bundle-binding member; a slotted rotary twister; the bundle binding member being constructed and arranged to place a wire completely around a bundle to overlap the wire within the slot of the twister; and means activated independently of any contact with the bundle for rotating the bundlebinding member in opposite directions with an interval of rest; said activated means comprising a reversing gear, driving connections intersaid reversing gear and the annular bundle-binding member, and a toothed driv ing element operable in opposite directions in mesh with said reversing gear; and means operable during the interval of rest to rotate the twister to unite the overlapped wire into a flat tie.

48; A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, mechanism for guiding and laying a wire band completely about a bundle in one cycle of movement; means for tying the band so laid; and driving means activated independently of any contact with the bundle for efiecting reversal of the band-guiding and laying mechanism to enclose a band in the opposite cycle of movement; said driving means comprising a rack and pinion operable to reverse the direction of rotation of the mechanism for each cycle of movement.

49. A machine of the class described comprising,.in combination, spaced bundle supporting elements; a slotted rotary twister; an annular bundle-binding member movable in a vertical plane intermediate said elements; the bundle binding member being constructed and arranged to place a wire completely around a bundle placed in binding position on said supports and to overlap the wire within the slot of the twister; means activated independently of any contact with the bundle for rotating the bundle-binding member in opposite directions with an interval of rest; said activated means consisting of a' train of interconnected rotative elements fixed against lateral shifting movement, and a reciprocable toothed element engaging one of said rotative elements for reversing the direction of movement of the annular bundle-binding member for each binding operation; and means operable during the interval of rest to rotate the twister to unite the overlapped wire into a fiat tie.

50. A machine of. the class described comprising, in combination, spaced bundle supporting elements; spaced bundle registering elements; fluid actuated means for clamping a bundle in binding position on means for holding the end of a wire; a slotted rotary twister; an annular bundle-binding member movable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions in a vertical plane intermediate said the supporting elements;

second bundle with at 05 spaced bundle supports; the binding member being'constructed and arranged to place a wire completely around a-bundle positioned and registered on said supports and to overlap the wire within the slot of the twister; means activated independently of for rotating the bundle-binding member in opposite directions; said activated means comprising a rotatable shaft, a train of rotatably mounted gearing having one as its elements engaged with the annular bundle-binding member and 1 any contact with the bundle 1 another of its elements secured to said shaft, a pinion gear secured to said shaft, a toothed element fixed against lateral shifting movement operable in opposite directions in mesh with said pinion gear for imparting clockwise and counterclockwise directions of movement to the member through said gearing; means for rotating the twister to form a flat tie; and resilient means for effecting release of the clamping means from the tied bundle.

51. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a frame; means for holding the lead of a wire adjacent the end thereof; means on the frame active on the strand of wire for effecting predetermined tensioning and controlled delivery thereof; means on the frame intermediate the holding means and the tensioning means for effecting adjustable retraction and tensioning of a portion of the wire delivered under predetermined tension; and wire guiding means associated with the first mentioned tensioning and controlling means adapted to effect removal of kinks and twists from the wire prior to the tensioning and controlled delivery thereof.

52. A machine of the class described comprising, incombination, a frame; means on the frame active on a strand of wire for effecting predetermined tensioning and controlled delivery thereof; means on the frame for effecting adjustable retraction and tensioning of a portion of the delivered wire; and means associated with the first mentioned means adapted to efiect removal of kinks and twists from a supply of said strand prior to the tensioning thereof.

53. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a frame; a device on the frame including a plurality of grooved rollers constructed and arranged in staggered relation delivered wire; and a device having an elongated,

bore for removing kinks from and guiding a supply portion of the wire into alignment with the grooves of said staggered rollers.

54. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a frame; a device on the frame including a plurality of grooved rollers constructed and arranged in staggered relation in a vertical plane for effecting tensioning and controlled delivery of a strand of wire; means on the frame constructed and arranged in the path of the wire delivered by said device for actively retracting and adjustably tensioning said wire; means associated with said means for cushioning the action thereof; bundle-binding means operable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions in a vertical plane to provide overlapping portions of the strand in said plane, for the formation of a tie, during each direction of movement of said bundle-binding means; wire tying mechanism; and meanson the frame for guiding the tensioned wire into the plane of movement of the bundle-binding means.

55. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a frame; a deviceon the frame including a plurality of grooved rollers constructed and arranged in staggered relation in a vertical plane for effecting tensioning and controlled delivery of a strand of wire; means on the frame, constructed and arranged in the path ofthe wire delivered by said device, for actively retracting and adjustably tensioning said delivered wire; means associated with said means for cushioning the action thereof; a slotted rotary twister; bundle-binding means having a path of travel in register with the slot of said twister; means on the frame for guiding the tensioned wire into the path of movement of the bundle-binding means; means for actuating said bundle-binding means for more than one revolution to encompass a bundle with a wire and to provide dual overlapping tie portions of the wire within the slot of the twister; and means for actuating said twister to unite said overlapped strands.

56. In a bundle tying machine, a frame adapted to hold the bundle to be tied, a slotted wire twisting device arranged contiguous to the side of the I contiguous side, means for passing a wire around the bundle and twice in the same direction throughvsaid slot, whereby the portions of the wire disposed in the slot are overlapped, means for actuating the passing means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; and means on one of said actuating members for causing rotation of the twisting device to twist the overlapping portions of the wire together.

57. In a tying machine, means for gripping a wire; means for effecting flexing and encircling of the wire in a vertical plane tightly against three sides of an object as it is passed more than completely around the object to provide overlapping portions of the encircled wire beyond the-gripper in said plane; a wire tying means positioned in the path of movement of the wire for receiving and intertwisting said overlapping portions of the banded wire to form a flat joint; and means for actuating the aforementioned means in timed relation whereby the intertwisting means is operative directly upon completion of the binding of the wire in a vertical plane tightly against three sides of an object as it is passed more than completely around the object to provide overlapping portions of the encircled wire beyond the gripper in said plane; means adjustably operative on the wire for maintaining the wire under tension during the movement of the encircling means; a wire tying means positioned in the path of movement of the wire for receiving and intertwisting said overlapping portions of the banded wire to form a flat joint, and means for actuating the aforementioned means in timed relation whereby the intertwisting means is operative directly upon completion of the binding movement of the convexing and encircling means.

59. In a tying machine, means for efiecting encircling of a tensioned binding strip about an object to be bound and tied, said means including a rotating member; spaced means for maintaining portions of the strip spaced from the object; a wire tying means positioned in the path of movement of the wire intermediate the spaced means for receiving and securing said portions of the strip in a substantially flat joint; and

about an object to be for more than the perimeter thereof to provide longitudinally disposed passing portions of the encircled strip in said plane; means for uniting said passing portions in a substantially fiat joint; and means for actuating the annular member consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement. 7

61,. In a binding machine, in combination, a rotatable annular member mounted for movement in a curvilinear path around an object'to be bound and tied; means for supplying a binding strip to said member; means for maintain ing the binding strip under tension means spaced from the supply means for gripping the lead of the strip; means for rotating the member to ei fect encircling of the strip extending from the gripping means about the object in a given plane for more than the perimeter of the object to provide one portion of the strip longitudinally overlapping another portion of the strip in said plane; means for uniting said overlapping portions in a'i substantially fiat joint; and means for actuatin the bundle-binding member and the uniting means in timed relation, said actuating means consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement. g

62. In a wire tying machine, a rotatable ring, means for supplying wire to said ring, said ring having a wire lead-oft member movable orbitally tied upon rotation of the ring, means for rotating the ring to efiect encircling of the wire in a given plane about the object, means for intertwisting adjacent portions of the wire into a flat knot;,said latter means comprising a rotary slotted twister having its slot in register in the plane of movement of the wirefor receiving said adjacent portions of the encircled wire directly from. the lead-off member during rotationof the ring; and means for effecting rotation of the ring and the intertwisting means in timed relation whereby the twister begins its operation directly the. ring completes its movement of encircling the wire about the object.

63. In a bundle tying machine, a wire gripper comprising a head and a projection thereon, an adjustable gripper element, means for operating the gripper to clamp the wire against said adjustablegripper element, means for passing the wire around the bundle in a direction to bend it around and against said projection, and means for holding the wire in tension.

64. In a wire tying machine a clamping element, an adjustable wire gripper movable relative to said element and comprising a head and a projection thereon, means for operating the gripper to hold the wire between the projection and the element, and means for passing the held wire. around an object in a direction to bend it around and in contact with said projection.

65. In a wire tying machine, a rotatable ring for effecting winding of wire about an object to be bound and tied, means for mounting the ring to allow rotation in reverse directions, means for securing the wire in a flat tie for each direction of rotation of the ring; means for rotating and reversing the ring consisting solely of members fixed against lateral shifting movement; said means effecting starting, reversing, stopping and holding of the ring for each cycle of operation of the machine; and means for maintaining the wire taut when the direction. of rotation of the ring is reversed. N

66. In a wire tyingmachine, a wire gripper, an adjustable gripper element, means for operating the gripper to clamp the wire against said adjustable gripper element, a rotatable ring for effecting winding of the wire about an object to be bound and tied, means for mounting the ring to allow rotation in reverse directions, means for guiding wire along the periphery of said ring, and means for maintaining the wire taut when the direction of rotation of the ring is reversed.

67. In a wire tying machine, a rotatable ring, 7'

-a slotted twister within the ring 'for forming a flat knot from overlapped portions of wire, means for supplying wire to said ring, and means for rotating the ring comprising a rack and pinion reversing the direction of rotation of the ring relative to the twister to effect encircling of the wire about an object to be boundiand tied and to.

directly pass and overlap portions of said wire in the slot of the twister.

68. In a wire tying machineJa rotatable ring,

a slotted twister positioned within the ring and substantially in the plane of the ring ,for forming a flat knot from overlapped portions of wire,

means for supplying wire to said ring, and means for rotating the ring comprising a reversing gear, gearing interposed between the reversing gear and the ring, and a toothed element fixed against lateral shifting movement operable in opposite directions for reversing the direction 0t rotation of the ring, through said gearing, twister to effect encircling of the wire about an object to be bound and tied and to directly pass and overlap portions of the wire in the slot of said twister. L

69. In a wire tying machine, a rotatable ring, a slotted twister, positioned within the ring and substantially in the planeof the ring for forming a flat knot from overlapped portions of wire, said twister being also mounted inian upright position whereby the overlapped portions will lie in a substantially vertical plane, means for supplying wire to said ring, and means for rotating the ring comprising a rack-and pinion reversing the direction of rotation'oi' the ring relative to the twister to efiect'encircling of the wire about an object to be bound and tied and to overlap pore tions of the wire in the slot of the twister.

70. In a tying machine, means including a rotatable ring for effecting encircling of a binding wire about an object to be bound and tied; a rotatable twister within said ring and having a slot opening toward the peripherycf the ring to receive overlapped portions of the wire, means for rotating the twister to intertwist said portions and to position said slot toward the center of the ring for discharge of the twisted portions; and power operated means for reversing and actuating the ring in opposite directions relative to the twister comprising a rotatable shaft, a reversing gear secured to said shaft, another gear secured to said shaft, gearing connections interposed between the last named gear and the ring, a toothed element fixed against lateral shifting movement and movable in opposite directions in mesh with said reversing gear, and a reciprocable driving element connected with said toothed element.

71. In a binding machine, means for gripping a binding wire, means for forming a flat tie including a rotary slotted twister, means for tenrelative to; the.

tensioned wire about an object to bebound, said wire entering the slot of the twister then enveloping the successive faces of the object and again entering the slot of the twister to overlie the initially positioned wire through actuation of said ring, means on the ring for holding the wire adjacent the periphery thereof, said latter means 

